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Park Rapids Area School Board approves personnel changes, handbook readings and sets Truth in Taxation meeting
Summary
At its Aug. 5 working meeting, the Park Rapids Area School Board approved a consent agenda of personnel resignations and hires, advanced multiple handbooks for 2025–26 on first and second readings, approved a food service contract with Mahube Otwa for 2025–26 and set a Truth in Taxation hearing for Dec. 15, 2025.
Park Rapids Area School Board Chairperson Safratowich called the Aug. 5, 2025 working meeting to order and recorded members present before the board approved the agenda and addendums.
The board approved a broad consent agenda that included rescinding a custodial resignation and accepting several staff resignations (including a paraprofessional and service monitors) while hiring multiple paraprofessionals, coaches and a bus driver for the 2025–26 year. The motion to approve the consent items was made by Morgan and seconded by Kocka. Items approved under the consent agenda included (but were not limited to) rescinding the resignation of Angie Mattern and accepting resignations from Elias Hendrickson, Sharon Wyttenback, Sara Ballard, Justin Moody and Greg Adams; and approving new hires including Tucker Kimbrough, Kendra Scholz, Cassidy Waite, Kira Poole, Kari Peterson, James Hall, Michelle Sherk, Jen Smith and Damara Fields.
The board also advanced handbook materials for the coming school year: first readings for the Activities Handbook, Elementary School Handbook, High School Handbook, the Park Rapids Area Virtual Academy (PRAVA) Handbook and the Technology Implementation Handbook; and second readings for the Employee Handbook, Substitute Handbook and Coaches Manual for 2025–26. Those handbook items were listed on the consent agenda or as first/second readings and were approved as presented.
Board members approved a food service contract with Mahube Otwa for the 2025–26 school year and approved allowing families access to supplemental K–12 student accident insurance. The agenda also records approval of a Truth in Taxation meeting date of Dec. 15, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. in the Park Rapids School Board Room.
The board heard an update on Project309; the transcript notes the update on the agenda but does not include substantive detail about the presentation. Members also received routine monthly board committee reports and noted that negotiations with Ed MN over the teachers' contract are forthcoming.
The working meeting adjourned at 7:42 a.m. on a motion by Morgan, seconded by Pike.
Votes at a glance - Motion to approve agenda and addendums: approved (mover Kocka; second Pike). - Consent agenda (personnel, handbooks, meeting date): approved (mover Morgan; second Kocka). - Food service contract with Mahube Otwa (2025–26): approved (listed on agenda; no individual vote tally in transcript). - Approval to allow families access to supplemental K–12 student accident insurance: approved (listed on agenda; no individual vote tally in transcript). - Addendum personnel items (resignation and hires): approved (listed on addendum; no individual vote tally in transcript). - Adjournment: approved (mover Morgan; second Pike).
The meeting record lists the Park Rapids Area School Board and staff in attendance, including Principals Jeff Johnson and Mike LeMeir, Business Manager Kent Fritze and Superintendent Lance Bagstad. The transcript contains no direct quotations or vote tallies beyond the listed motions and seconders.
